Theatre Arts

Course Information

Program Overview

Do you long to act? Direct? Produce? Write? At Assumption, students have the opportunity to pursue their individual interests as part of an ensemble. Your courses and the performance groups at Assumption provide numerous opportunities to enhance and hone your skills.

Assumption’s theatre arts program focuses on performance and production for the stage and small screen. The theatre arts faculty are dedicated teachers in their disciplines and active professionals in their fields. They work actively with students to help set up local academic and career internships at exciting and educational locations such as The Hanover Theater of the Performing Arts, WGBH Public Television, Channel 3 (Worcester) and WCUW Radio.

Each year, nearly 150 students are involved in one or both of the Theatre Department’s productions; typically a drama in the fall, a musical during spring semester.

Performance Groups:

AC Chorale: The College’s auditioned concert choir of 50 to 60 voices performs on campus, throughout the U.S. and abroad. These concerts often feature a full orchestra and instrumental ensembles. The Chorale’s international concert tours have taken them to Italy, Russia, Greece, and, most recently, France, where they sang at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.

A cappella at Assumption: Student-run singing groups perform a diverse repertoire of songs without instrumental accompaniment in a variety of venues.

Merely Players (Drama Club): The emphasis is on high quality and having fun. There are many opportunities to get involved on stage or backstage. Merely Players performs at least two productions a year, including a One Act Festival.

Annual spring musical: This year Les Miserables was performed at The Hanover Theatre, a premier, professional theatre in downtown Worcester. Previously, Assumption has presented The Fantasticks (Spring 2009), Into the Woods (Spring 2008) and Damn Yankees (Spring 2007).

Assumption Asylum: This is a club for students to perform, study and appreciate improvisational and sketch comedy. Periodically, we invite professionals to teach improv comedy. Assumption also hosts improv comedy competitions.

University of Massachusetts Medical School Library (2006), Worcester, MA

Center for Maine Contemporary Art (2005), Rockport, ME

Institute of Contemporary Art (2003), Portland, ME

Internships & Outcomes

Careers

There are exciting opportunities in performance, production, broadcasting and marketing for theatre students, these include:

Actor

Director

Stage manager

Production manager

Film editor

Lighting, sound or set designer

Marketing manager

Media buyer

Broadcast specialist

Drama teacher

Sample of Recent Employers:

Opera Boston

Boston Opera Collaborative

Internships

Students may participate in the College internship programs and spend a semester gaining experience for academic credit or in a career internship. Internships are typically done during the third or fourth year of study.

IT Intern for the Infrastructure Technology Organization Group at The Hanover

I am responsible for assisting with projects that involve the Infrastructure Technology Organization at The Hanover. I am working with many different types of databases within the organization, making reports and gathering the necessary requirements to upgrade these databases.

Erin Dougherty

Graphic Design and Marketing '17

Internship: Sales Marketing Intern with BlueSky Capital Partners, LLC

Through this internship, I have had the opportunity to be involved in all areas of an e-commerce company. I was able to work hands on with everything from website management to billing and shipping. I have gained practical experience in the field and have been able to build both my organization and communication skills.

Rebecca Oliveira

Graphic Design '16

Internship: World Wide Planning Intern at EMC

While at EMC, I had the opportunity to work in Ireland for one week. This was a great learning experience! I got to meet individuals I had collaborated with virtually. It was amazing to see how the work environment is different from the United States. I was able to share some strategies with them that are used in the United States to help globalize the planning operations at EMC.

Breanna Papalia

Graphic Design '15

Graphic Design Intern for the Assumption College Athletics and Recreation Department

"Assumption College has given me the programing skills and visual eye needed to succeed at my internship, where I’ve learned to work as an individual, prioritize projects and estimate the amount of time needed to complete a project. This internship has given me the confidence to believe in myself and my skills."

Aubrey Lovejoy

Graphic Design '16

Intern at Pagio, Inc.

"At my internship I am learning what it’s like to work for a magazine and work around a deadline. I am helping to create ads, update the online magazine and promote the magazine through the use of different types of social media. I feel very confident at my internship because of the classes I've taken."

Chantal James

Graphic Design and Studio Art '15

Graphic Design Intern at the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce

"Assumption has been the number one reason I continue to grow and succeed at my internship. I’ve had the opportunity to obtain a wide range of experiences in visual arts, graphic design and marketing. My internship supervisor has showed me how business and graphic design function together in a business."